Automatic weft-replenishing loom.



E. H. BALLOU.

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6. 1917.

1 ,27 2,601 Patented July 16, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

' FIG.1. 172126711507:

E. H. BALLOU.

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENlSHING LO0M..

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6. I917.

1 ,272,60 1 Patented July 16, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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I7LUe7L f/07? E. H. BALLOU.

/ AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM.

.APPLICATION HLED AUG.6| 1917.

Eatented Ju1y16,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 F a e. 5.

A 1 K W E. H. BALLOU.

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHlING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-6. I917- J1,272,601 Patented July 16, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

FIGB. F1610.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

EUGENE H. BALLOU, OF PAWTU'GKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO DRAIPEB CORPORA- TION, OF HOIPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPORATION OF MAINE.

AUTOMATIC WEFT-REPLENISHING LOOIVL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed August 6, 1917. Serial No. 184,704.

. which the following is a specification.

In Letters Patent of the United States, Number 1,244,827, October 30,1917, there is, described an automatic weft replenishing loom in which the shuttle box at the replen- 1sh1ng side of the loom is yieldably connected with the lay, and, when a change of weft is called, the shuttle box at the replenishing side of the loom is stopped when about half Way forward, while the lay con-' tinues its regular forward movement, the

transfer of a fresh weft carrier into the. shuttle taking place while the shuttle box;

containing the shuttle is standing still.

The object of the present improvements is to prevent the action of the replenishing mechanism in the event that the shuttle is not properly positioned in the shuttle box, thereby avoiding damage either to the shuttle or to the weft carriers.

The present improvement is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1, is a front view of the replenishing side of the loom. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fi 3, is a horizontal section in the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a longitudinal section in the plane indicated by the line 44 in Fig."

1. Fig. 5, is a horizontal sectionin the plane indicated by the line 55 in Fig. 2. Figs. 6 to 10, are detail views.

Figs. 1 and 2, illustrate the parts in the position they occupy 'just as the transferrer has acted to insert a fresh weft carrier in the shuttle.

Reference numerals are used to indicate parts which correspond with those described in the aforesaid Patent No; 1,244,827, and reference letters are used to describe the new parts.

The magazine 1, with contained weft carriers 2, is ofthe rotary type used in, the Northrop loom, as illustrated in United State Letters Patent of E. S. Stimpson, No. 664,790, December 25, '1900. Coiiperating with the magazine is the usual transferrer 3, pivoted at 4. The shuttle box 5, at the replenishing side of the loom is carried by. frame 6, wh h i rlvptall mounted at its lower end independently of the lay with its axis in line with the axis of the lay. As shown in Fig. l, the shuttle box frame 6, has an inner bearing 7, turning on the lay rock shaft 8, and an outer journal 9, turning in an independent bearing 10. The lay 11, has a lateral extension 12, extending in front of the shuttle box. The shuttle box frame 6, carries a horizontal rock shaft 13, which in turn carries a projection 14, thereon, Which is connected by a strap 15, with a spring 16, fastened at its lower end to the shuttle box frame 6. The shuttle box has fast on it at its opposite ends drums 17 each of which is connected by a strap 18, to a bracket 19, fastened to the lay extension 12. The drawings show only one of the drums 17, and straps 18, the duplication being illustrated in said Patent No. 1,244,827. During the ordinary running of the loom the spring 16, and the described connections 13, 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19, maintain the shuttle box and the lay together so that they move in unison. When, however, a change of weft is called, the shuttle box and its frame are stopped when about half way forward while the lay continues its forward movement, this being permitted by the yielding spring 16. When the lay begins to retreat the spring 16, takes up the lost motion between the shuttle box and the lay extension 12, and thereafter the shuttle box and lay move together; This stoppage of the shuttle box is under the control of detecting mechanism which detects the need for weft replenishment. The detecting mechanism may be of any of the well known types now in use. The detector may be a weft fork which detects the absence of weft and sets the weft replenishment instrumentalities into action, as in United States Letters Patent of Northrop No. 529,940, November 27, 1894, or it may be a feeler which detects approaching exhaustion of weft, as in United States Letters Patent of Northrop No. 600,016, March 1, 1898. Whichever detector is em ployed, the starting shaft 20, is rocked and an arm 21, thereon, is lifted. This arm 21,

V is connected by a link 22, with a crank arm 23,

fast on the forward end of a rock shaft 24. Near its rear end this rock shaft has fast on it a shifter fork 25, which engages a peripheral groove 26, in a sleeve 27, which is splined on the cam shaft 28, of the loom. C lifting f. l n 2 s in s the hiite counters the front end 35, of a detent 36,

pivoted at 37, thereby maintaining a shoulder 88, of the detent above and out of reach of an abutment '39, carried by a sliding arm I 40, which is pivoted at 41, tn the shuttle box frame 6. When the rear end of replenishing' lever-30 is raised the stop 33, is lifted to the position shown in Fig. 2, and the heavier rear end of the detent 36, drops so as to bring its shoulder 38, into the path of the abutment 39. Then, as the lay and shuttle box move forward, the abutment 39, en-

counters the shoulder 38, of the detent and prevents any further forward movement of the shuttle box while the lay continues to move forwardly being thus permitted to move by the yielding of the spring 16 In this manner the shuttle box at the replenish ing side of the loom is stopped in proper position to receive the lowermost Weft carrier in the magazine.

At its forward end'the replenishing lever,

30, is adjustably connected with an arm &2, which at its upper end has a lost motion connection with a link 43, pivotallyconnected' with the transferrer o. This lost motion connection permits the lever 30 to move under .theinfluence of the cam 29, sufliciently far to permit the stoppage of the shuttle box before any motion is transmit-ted to the transferrer. Thereafter, the continuance of the movement of the replenishing lever 30,

results in the swing of the transferrer 3, so as to transfer the lowermost spare weft carrier in the magazine into the shuttle then occupying the stationary shuttle box. Fig. 2, showsthe replenishing lever 80, moved to its extreme position by the cam 29, andthe transferrer .3, in its lowermost positionf Accordingly, the transfer of the fresh Weft carrier through the shuttle takes place when the shuttle is stan ding still. vAfter the transfer ,is effected the cam 2.9, passes the replenishing lever 30, and said lever is restored to its normal lowermost position by the spring 32, thns lifting the transferrer to its normal uplifted position and also liftingthe rear end of the detent 86, so as to get'its shoulder 38, out of the path of the abutment 39,011 the sliding arm 40. treats, the spring 16, and its connections with the lay extension '12, again unite the shuttle box to the lay so that Pthereafterthey move-in unison. After the transfer is completed', a splring 44, restores the rock shaft 24,, to its i, e ,position with the .cam 29,.ont of reach of thereplenishing lever 30'. All of the parts as thusfar described are simi lar to eonnespondin parts in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,244,823, to which reference is made for a. full description of the construction and mode of operation. 4

Itis important that the shuttle should be properly positioned in the shuttle box at the replenishing sideof the loom at the'tii'ne the transfer is Finade. @therwise, breakage may occur. The improvements constituting the present invention reside in the mechanism which prevents the disconnection of the shuttle box from the lay and the action of the transferrer unless illiGrShlltlflG" is properly positioned. When the shuttle is in roper position in the shuttle box 5, it" is in contact with the picker 45, carried by the picker stick &6. When the shuttle is in proper=-pesit-ien the picker stick 4x6, is in contact with-the nppeiflend of a lever A, which pivoted B, to the shuttle box frame '6. The-lower cndof the-lever A, has pivotal-1y connected with it a link which extends inwardly in anearly "horizontal direct-ion, as shown in Fig. 1, and at its inner endit isbent to form a stud .The

link C, and its-stud D, are upheld and g-nided by a guide E, which is fast onthe rock.

and between link C, and lever A, to permit the rocking of-the shaft 24, and to compensate for the swing ofathe shuttle box frame 6.

' In the event, however, that the shuttle is 7 not yroperly-positioned in the shuttle box .5, the lever A, will be moved-at its upper end tleloox frame 6, by a spring G, so that the stud D, will then occupy the outer position shown in Fig. 19, and in dotted-lines in Fig.

7 lYhen-thestud D, is in this outer position tfis in the path of a controller consisting of vibrating lever H, pivoted at I. The rear end of this controller c o-acts with a-contrelinwardly aggninst a fixed stop "F, on the-shut- 1 i ling cam J, on thecam shaft 28, with which it is nniintaineC-l in operative relation by the spring 32. The cam J, lifts, and the spring 32, depresses, the forward endof the controller The forward end of the control-lerjswingsup and down freely when the stud D, is out of i-tspath; When the con trolling'cam'J, acts-upon the rear end of the As the lay restage, the shuttle is properly positioned, the

The timing of the cam J, is such that, as shown in Fig. 6, it is about to act 011 the controller H, just after the shuttle has entered the box at the replenishing side of the loom. If a change of weft has been called, the shaft 24L, at this time has been rocked so as to lower the guide E, and the stud D, so that the latter is just above the controller H, and the replenishing cam 29, is ready to act on the replenishing lever 80. If at this stud D, is in its innermost position, out of the way of the controller H, so that when the controlling cam J, acts, the forward end of said controller H, passes upwardly past the stud D, to the position. shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the replenishment takes place.

In the event, however, that the shuttle is improperly boxed at the critical period, the stud D, occupies the outer position (Fig. 10) and is in the path of the controller H. Hence when said lever is swung by cam J, it encounters the stud D, thereby moving the stud and guide E, to the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This movement rocks the shaft 24, so as to move the sleeve 27, inwardly, thereby moving the replenishing cam 29, out of reach of the replenishing lever 30. so that the transfer is not made.

To permit the rocking of the shaft 24, by the controller H, the link 22, is made yieldingly extensible as shown in Fig. 5. The link 22, is made of two rods K and L. A sleeve M, is secured to rod L, and has a guide N, in which rod K, slides. The rod K, is surrounded by a spring 0, which bears at its top against the guide N, and at its bottom against a collar P, on the rod K. Hence, when controller H, rocks the shaft 24, the spring 0, yields thus permitting the rod L, to move down while rod K, stands still. The spring 0, is sufficiently stiff to insure the shaft 24, being rocked when the arm 21, is lifted.

lVhen the loom is normally running, the guide E, occupies the position shown in Fig. 1, with the stud D, above reach of the controller H, so that the stud is encountered by the lever only in case the shuttle is not properly positioned when a change of weft is called by the detector and the starting shaft 20. is rocked.

I claim 1. An automatic weft replenishing loom wherein when replenishment is effected the shuttle box stands still while the lay continues to move forward having, in combination, a replenishing lever which by its movement causes the dwell of the shuttle box and the supply of weft thereto; a normally ineffective rotary and sliding replenishing cam cooperating with said replenishing lever when replenishment is demanded; a rock shaft connected with said cam and acting to slide said replenishing cam into and out of 'a spring actuated lever which is swung in opposition to its spring when the picker is forced outwardly by the shuttle; and connections between said lever and said stud whereby said stud is in the path of the con troller when the shuttle is not properly boxed and is out of such path when the shuttle is correctly boxed.

2. An automatic weft replenishing loom wherein when replenishment is effected the shuttle box stands still while the lay continues to move forward having, in combina tion, a replenishing lever which by its movement causes the dwell of the shuttle box and the supply of weft thereto; a normally ineffective replenishing cam cooperating with said replenishing lever when replenishment is demanded; a rock-shaft connected with said cam and acting to move said cam into and out of reach of the replenishing lever, said shaft being rocked when replenishment is required; a stud movable on said rock shaft; a rotary controlling cam; a controller 100 moved by said. controlling barn and adapted to encounter said stud so as to move said replenishing cam to ineffective position inthe event that the shuttle is not properly boxed at the replenishing side of the loom; the 105 picker at the replenishing side of the loom;

and connections between said picker and said stud whereby said stud is in the path of the controller when the shuttle is not properly boxed and is out of such path when the shuttle is correctly boxed.

3. An automatic weft replenishing loom wherein when replenishment is effected the shuttle box stands still while the lay eontinues to move forward having, in combination, a replenishing lever which by its movement causes the dwell of the shuttle box and the supply of weft thereto; a normally ineffective replenishing cam adapted to coopcrate with said replenishing lever; weftgoverned means acting to move said cam to effective position when replenishment is demanded; a rotary controlling cam; a controller moved by said controlling cam and acting to move said replenishing cam to ineffective position in the event that the shuttle is not properly boxed at the replenishing side of the loom; the picker at the replenishing side of the loom; and connections between said picker and said controller whereby said controller acts when the shuttle is not properly boxed and is idle when the shuttle is correctly boxed.

4:. An automatic weft replenishing loom 5? wherein when replenishment is effected the shuttle box stands still while the lay continues to move forward having, in combination, a replenishing lever which by its movement causesthe dwell of the shuttle box and the supply of weft thereto; a replenishing cam cooperating with said replenishing lever when replenishment is demanded; a controller acting to move said cam to inefi'ective position in the event that the shuttle is not properly boxed at the replenishing side of the loom; and means governed by the position of the shuttle in the box at the replenishing side of the loom to render said controller active when the shuttle is not properly boxed; and to render said controller idle when the shuttleis correctly boxed.

5. An automatic weft replenishing loom wherein when replenishment is effected the shuttle box stands still While the lay continues to move forward having, in combination, replenishing means which causes the dwell of the shuttle box and the supply of weft thereto; anda controller for said replenishing means which is governed by the position of the shuttle in the box at the replenishing side of the loom, so that the shuttle box stops and replenishment is effected only when the shuttle is correctly boxed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EUGENE H. BALLOU.

Copies of'this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

